Circuit-breaker.



Patentd July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I a km /fwd dig STATES PATE QFFKC.

LEONARD Loan ELDEN, or DORCHESTER, massacnusnrrs, assronon, l3 Y MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro GENERAL ELEoTmc'coMPANY, A oonrona'rron on NEW roux.

' f CIRCUIT-BREAKER. 4

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed October 11, 1904. Serial No. 228,040.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD Lonn ELDEN, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Dorchester, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Circuit- Breakers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an improved automatic circuitibreaker, the main object thereof beingto provide a circuit breaker which is especially suitable for extremely heavy currents and which shall be very easy to operate.

It is well known that, especially in 010s ing the usual automatic. circuit breaker, considerable strength and power are required because of the heavy springs and other automatic opening and tripping means whose resistance has to be overcome before the circuit breaker can be properly closed, and this resistance is so great in very heavy-current circuit breakers as to tire and lame the operator, frequently requiring both hands and all his strength to close them. Accordingly I have devised a construction in which the latch or means for holding the switch closed, is not required to overcome or resist any opposing spring or opening device, but is features, such as the maintenance of the shunt or carbon contacts closed until after the bridge contacts are broken, the carbon contacts being independently held together until after the latter contacts are broken. the mounting of said main and shunt contacts on independently pivoted arms having spring connection, a separate gravity, quick-opening handle, the arrangement of an opening movement through a series of momentumgiving impacts, provision for; the automatic alinement of the laminated or bridge contact, besides various constructional improve;

portions of the levers which shunt contact. Fig. 6 is a detail in top plan ments to prevent heating, simplify theoperation, repair and assemblage of the apparatus. I

Further advantages and the operation of my invention will be pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing my improved cir-' cuit breaker in fully opened position. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view representing the toggle action, closed in full lines, and partly open in dotted lines, said dotted position showing the intermediate position of the bridge-carrying parts'at which the separating cam-action takes place for quickly separating the carbon or shunt contacts. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the dotted lines 33 Figs. 7 and 8. Figs. 4 and 5 are details in side elevation showing the actuate the showing the bridge connection. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of -the apparatus, Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation, parts being broken away, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional View on the dotted line 9-9 Fig. 7

For convenience of illustration I have ins, dicated a base 1 (which may be a switch board or any other insulating slab or plate) to which contact blocks 2, 3 are secured, the former carrying a carbon contact 4 in its upper end, and a binding post 5 at its rear side, and the latter being connected with a heavy coil 6 inclosed in an iron case 7 and provided with a binding post 8 at its rear side.

At its upper end the case 7 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 8, has ears 9, to which are secured the outer ends 10 of a bracket 11 in which is pivoted at 12 a latch 13 in position above an opening 11 to be engaged by a tripping pin on the upper end of a movable core or armature 15 slidingly mounted in a tube 16 whose threaded upper end 17 is removabl y screwed into the case 7. The bracket 11 occupies a recess 18 formed in the contact weighted outer end 22 overhanging sufiiciently to give a slightly falling tendency thereto when closed.

Gotiperating with the contact blocks 2, 3 is a laminated bridge or contact maker 23 pivotally mounted on. a pin 24 at the free ends of a pair of arms 25 freely pivoted at. their inner ends on bolts 26 to the opposite sides of the case 7 The bridge is operated by a toggle consisting of links 27 pivoted respectively at 28 to thebridge-carrying arms 25, and a lower link or toggle member .29, U-shaped in cross-section as clearly shown in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that it is engaged at its opposite sides by projecting flanges 30 of the handle 20. when it is desired to close the circuit breaker. The aforesaid parts are so related'that when the toggle is on a dead-center the circuit breaker is closed and its contacts are so maintained solely by said togglein such sensitive position, 2'. e. on dead-center. This is one of the leading features of novelty to which the easy closing is due. Also the easy opening of'the circuit breaker islargely made possible' and greatly facilitated by the same provision of having the contacts held closed by a toggle, Whose normal switch-closed position is the dead-center position. This feature also particularly adapts the invention to automatic circuit breaking mechanism. The handle terminates in a shoulder 31- at its lower end and the toggle member 29 is provided with projecting lugs 32 in positionto be engaged by said shoulder 31, whereby the toggle is thrown from its dead center holding-position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to its broken positions as shown in Fig. 1 'and,, in dotted lines Fig. 2. Beneath the handle, the case 7 is provided with a projection 01" rest 33 having a buffer spring 34 to receive the blow of the falling parts when the switch opens.

I The-bridge '23, as alreadymentioned, is pivoted ,,at 24 and is capable of a limited swinging movement for permitting it to adjust itself in. proper alinement with the contacting surfaces of the blocks 2, 3 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8. The construction permitting this movement is shown more clearly in Fig. 6 where it will be seen that the laminated portion of the bridge 23 is carried on a hub 35 having projecting edges 36 extending beneath the arms 25 so as to leave a slight space 37 for the desired swing- .ing or rocking movement.

Cooperating with the. carbon block is an I opposite carbon block 38 mounted in the outer ends of a pair of arms 35) pivoted to swing freelyon the bolts 26 already mentioned. The blocks a, 38 constitute main shunt contacts and are-normally held together by a spring 40 secured at 41 to the hub 35 of the bridge contact.

Instead of permitting the spring 40 to bear directly upon the adjacent shunt contact, I provide an insulating plate 42, this insulation of the spring preventing the latter becoming heat-- ed by current which would otherwise flow therethrough. At their inner ends and adjacent faces the arms 25, 39, are provided with cooperating cam surfaces or shoulders 43, 44, which permit the arms'25 to fall from their full line position Fig. 2 to their dotted line position before their shoulders 43 strike against the shoulders l l-andthereby compel the arms 39 to swing with the arms 25 the rest of the distance. Anau'xiliary shunt contact 45 is carried by a spring 46 on the bridge for extra precaution against sparking inhandling' heavy currents. At the opposite sides of case 7 are barrels 47 containing plungers 48 held under upward tension against the ends 50 of.

arms 25 by small springs 49, these small springs being solely for giving momentum to the moving parts upon the breaking of the toggle.

The armature tube, as already stated, is

held. in threaded engagement at its upper end with the case 7, thereby permitting its instant removal when desired, and a further feature of simplicity thereof resides in running the slot 51 thereof down to the very bottomend where the tube is provided with a peripheral groove 52 into which is snapped, a spring wire or split mm; 53 for retaining the core or armature 15 and a regulating clamp 5% which may be loosened and slid 0.

up or down on the tube, and then clamped fast, for stopping the pin 55 of the core or armature 15 and therebyregulating the distance to which said armature can fall,thereby determining the strength of current required for tripping the circuit breaker.

In use, it will be evident, viewing Fig. 1,

that, although the present circuit breaker is capable of handling extremely heavy currents, it can be operated with very sl ght exertion. Let us suppose that the circuit breaker is open as shown in Fig. 1 and that toggle links 27 with the arms 25, and the.

shunt contact 38 being lifted by the'engagement of the spring 40 with theinsulating plate 42 thereof. As the bridge 23 strikes against its contacts it automatically adjusts itself to proper alinement because of its pivotal connection, and as the parts are brought into complete circuit-closing position the toggle 27, 29, is brought to dead-center position, thereby retaining the circuit breaker positively closed. This retention however, is not against the opening tendency of a heavy springas is ordinarily the case. The parts are simply held in closed position by the vertical, dead-center position of the toggle acting independently and not actedupon by any other part. The handle is retained by the engagement of its catch 19 by the gravity latch 13. When an over load'occurs the solenoid acts upon its armature 15 to raise the same quickly, thereby lifting the latch- 13. This permits the weighted lever 20 to fall, and, upon reaching the full-line position Fig. 2, its shouldered end 31 strikes a hammer blow against the lugs 32 of the toggle, thereby readily breaking the toggle from its dead-center position and permitting the parts to fall in the order of movement presently described. It will be observed that the automatic tripping of the latch and handle has no effect on the toggle but that the latter maintains the parts exactly as before until the handle strikes the blow just described. The handle still has some distance to fall, and accordingly it imparts its momentum to the toggle and connected parts, this gravity action thereby taking the place of the usual heavy spring. The small springs 49 have no influence whatever excepting to accelerate the movement of the parts when once started. The latch simply holds up the handle 20, and hence is V tripped by an exceedingly light and delicate upward impact of the armature 15. The spring positively holds the carbon shuntcontacts in closed position until after the bridge contact and its auxiliary shunt have entirely separated from the contact blocks 2, 3, and thereupon, the bridge 23 and arms 25 having reached the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the shoulders -13 of the arms 25 come into sudden contact with the shoulders H of the arms 39 and thereby transmit a hammer-like blow to-the latter, forcibly separating the shunt contacts 4, 38 and throwing the latter down against the spring 40, in position to be again raised when it is desired to close the circuit breaker next time.

Besides the easy closing, which is the main object of my invention, another purpose of the. invention is to provide a lightweight opening so that the destructive pounding which is so injurious in many high service circuit breakers, is avoided. Not only are the parts operated simply by gravity and light in weight themselves, but the fall is divided into a series of impacts instead of one. The parts 31, 32, 43, and 4A constitute impulse-giving devices for delivering by gravity a series of opening imparts for opening the circuit breaker. The weighted handle 20 first strikes the toggle in the full line position Fig. 2, and then strikes'the buffer spring 34, this impact being immediately succeeded by that of 'the arms 25 against the arms 39, and then bythe, striking of the toggle link 29 against the now stationary handle 20 and finally '40, and having the switch operating means arranged to connect only with the main contact carrying arm. This requires the dissimultaneous operation of the shunt and main contacts. Y

Various other advantages follow from the preferred construction which I have explained. For instance, if a new bridge is required, all that is necessary is to drive out the pin 24 whereupon the defective bridge can be removed and anew one put'in its place with but a. moments delay. I have already mentioned the extreme simplicity. of construction and adjustment of the armature and its tube. It will. also be observed that all the steel and iron parts are mounted on the' case 7 which receives the magnetic lines of force and acts as a conductor for the shunt circuit. Each part is removable without disturbing the otherparts, and there is no delicate mechanism to break or wear out.

I am aware that many changes in form and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and accordingly I do not limit the latter excepting as expressed in the claims, reference being had to the foregoing description and drawings.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the .United States, is

1. A circuit breakercomprising relatively movable cooperating contacts, restraining means for normally holding said contacts 2. A circuit breaker, comprising separable use I contacts, a toggle" holding said contacts closed when on the dead-center, a gravity device for breaking said toggle, a latch normally holding said gravity device. against falling, and means operated by an abnormal current conditiontfor tripping said latch.

3. A circuit breaker, comprising separable main contacts, a toggle standing normally approximately vertical in position to-be readily tripped and fall by gravity, a gravity member for operating the toggle, and a tripping device for releasing said gravity member actuated by an abnormal current conditiomsaid contacts being held closed solely by said toggle.

4:. A circuit breaker, comprising separable main contacts, a tripping device for releasing a gravity member; actuated by an abnormal current condition, a toggle normally raised into approximately vertical position, and said gravity member extending normally upward along one member of I the toggle in position to open the toggle by gravity when released by said tripping device, said contacts being held closed solely by said toggle.

5. A c'rcuit breaker comprising separable main and shunt contacts biased to separate,

a normally positive collapsible toggle .for holding said contacts in engagement, an impact tripping member movable into tripping position to collapse said toggle and ex-' 1 ert a circuit opening impulse on said toggle and, contacts, said member being biased to tripping position to an extent which increases as it approaches tripping position, a latch for normally restraining said tripping member, and electroresponsive means for actuating said latch to release said impact member in response to an abnormal current condition.

6. A circuitbreaker comprising separable contacts, a normally positive collapsible toggle connected to said contacts to hold them in closed position, a pivoted impact member movable into tripping position to collapse said toggle and exert an opening impulse on saidcontacts, said member being mounted to beslightly biased from normal position and to exert when in tripping position a much greater bias tending to collapse said toggle, and electroresponsive I tripping mechanism for holding said memher in normal position and for releasing said member in response to abnormal current conditions to permit said member to move into tripping position,

7. A circuit breaker comprising separable contacts, a normally positive toggle pivotally connected to one of said contacts and normally in position 'to' hold said contacts closed, an impact member actuated solely by gravity and pivotally mounted to swing into position to strike said toggle a blow to collapse it and exert a quick circuit opening impulse upon said contacts, an unrestrained latch for normally holding said member substantially vertical above its pivot and operating to release said gravity actuated member and permit it to fall into positlon to str ke said toggle and accomplish said quick opening, and means operated by an abnormalAcurrent -condition'- for operating said latch to release said member.

8. A circuit breaker, comprising separable contacts, a tripping device actuated by an abnormal current condition, and gravity mechanism containing a plurality of parts for giving a succession of distinct opening impulses for increasing the momentum of the separating contacts.

9. A. circuit breaker, comprising separable contacts, a toggle for maintaining them closed when on a dead-center, and a taining a plurality of cooperating impulsegravity device for breaking said toggle by a gravity blow, the aforesaid parts congiving devices for delivering by gravitya,

series of opening impacts for opening said circuit breaker.

10 A circuit breaker, comprising separable'contacts, carrying members therefor,

means for holding said carrying members in closed position, and an operating handle normally tending to fall by gravity when the circuit breaker is closed, all of the movable parts above mentioned being arranged tofall by gravity from closed position d a rest for supporting said parts" in""fall di1 position, the aforesaid-mechanism containing means causing said parts to fall at distinct intervals and to transmit their weight" to said rest in'a series of separated impacts. a

11. A circuitbreaker comprising a bridge contact, an independently movable and sepmechanism being constructed and arrange y to move said contacts into contact-making position unretarded except by gravity, said moving mechanism including a toggle. having a normal dead-center position and arranged to maintain said contacts in contactmaking position whenon a dead-center, and i a gravity handle for operating said-toggle tending to fall by gravity when the circuit breaker is closed, and automatic tripping mechanism for releasing said gravity handle.

13. A circuit breaker, comprising stationary main contact terminals located one above the other, a stationary shunt contact disposed above the upper main contact, a movable laminated bridging member 'for engaging said main contacts, a pivoted arm supporting said laminatedbridging member in position to tend to fall by gravity when the circuit breaker is closed, switch operating mechanism connected only with said pivoted arm and comprising restraining means connected to said arm to hold it in circuit closing position, a second pivoted arm movable independently of said first mentioned arm andin position to tend to fall by gravity when the circuit breaker is closed, a movable shunt contact carried by said second arm and adapted to engage said stationary shunt contact, a spring carried by one of said arms and extending to the other of said arms for holding said shunt contacts in engagement when the circuit breaker is closed, a gravity impact member mounted to fall and'engage said restraining means and thereby release said first mentioned pivoted' arm, and automatic tripping mechanism normally restraining said impact member and responsive to an abnormal current condition for releasing. said gravity member to fall and open the circuit breaker.

A circuit breaker comprising stationary main contact terminals located one above the other, a stationary shunt contact disposed above theupper main contact, a movable laminated bridging member for engaging said main contacts, a ivoted arm supporting said laminated bri ging member, switch operating mechanism connected only with said pivoted arm and comprising restraining means for holding said arm in circuit closing position, a movable =shunt contact movable independently of said first pivoted arm and always biased to move away from said stationary shunt contact, a spring carried by said arm and engaging the movable shunt contact to hold said movable shunt contact in engagement with the fixed shunt contact While said arm is in circuit closing position, and electroresponsive tripping mechanism for engaging said restraining means to release said pivoted arm and bridging member and thereby open the circuit breaker. Y

15. A circuit breaker, comprising stationary main contact terminals located one above the other, a stationary shunt contact disposed above the upper main contact, a movable laminated bridging member for engaging said main contacts. a pivoted arm sup porting said laminated bridging member, a switch operating toggle connected only withsuid pivoted arm and overset when said arm is in circuit closing position, a second piv- .Oted arm movable independently of said first mentioned arm, a movable shunt contact carried by said second arm and adapted to engage said stationary shunt'contact, both of said arms being mounted to always tend to- 16. A circuit breaker, comprising inain contacts, shunt contacts, restraining means' for holding the movable contacts in closed circuit breaker position, and operating mechanism for all theaforesa'id parts and for aiding the circuit breaker to, open, in-

eluding current-actuated tripping means'to release said restraining means, and an oper: ating handle, and means'movable withthe main contacts and inde endent of the operating. handle for holding said shunt contacts independently closed until after the main contacts are separated, said shunt contacts being at all times under tendency to open excepting for the restraint of said means which is movable with the main contacts.

17 A circuit breaker, comprising separa-' ble contacts including .a bridge contact and a shunt contact, pivoted arms for carrying said bridge contact, independently pivoted arms for carrying said shunt contact, and a gravity device arranged to operate said arms by its gravity movement, said gravity device being normally in a position tending by gravity to move into open position.

18. A circuit breaker, comprising separable contacts including a bridge contact and a shunt contact, pivoted arms for carrying said bridge contact, arms pivoted independently of said other arms for carrying said shunt contact, yielding connection between said arms for causing said two contacts and their arms to move dissimultaneously, a-toggle connected to said bridge carrying arms for maintaining said contacts in closed position when the toggle is on a dead-center and having .said dead-center position as the ing contact-carrying arms, and operating means pivoted directly to the upper end of said 'case and delivering their falling impact.

oted arms carrying said bridge, a toggle for on's'aid rest.

20. A circuit breaker comprising vertically arranged fixed contacts, cooperating movable contacts, a tripping coil, a 'metal case inclosing saidv coil, carrying arms for said movable contacts'pivoted to said case, a gravity member, a toggle operating between said memberand said arms, for maintaining said contacts closed when in dead-center position, and a rest projecting from said case forreceiving'the impact of said gravity member, whereby all the movable parts are carried by, and their gravity impacts received by, said case.

21. A circuit breaker, comprising separa- 'ble contacts, means for closing'said contacts, including a toggle, and a handle for operating said toggle, said handle being pivoted co-axially of said toggle but capable of swinging freely independently thereof, and provided with means for removably engaging the lowerv link of the toggle substantially throughout its entire length.

'22. A circuit breaker, comprising fixed contacts, a bridge for spanning them, -pivnism therefor including a coil, a movable core, a case surrounding said coil and core, and a depending tube extending vertically through said case and entirely inclosmg said core, v through said coil and inclosing said core,

said tube having an open lower endfand'a spring retainer for preventingthe escape-of said core while permitting the quick re-' Mamet core, said tube'having threaded engagement .with the upper end of saidcase for instant removal therefrom when desired.

'24:. A circuit breaker, comprising separable contacts, an automatic tripping mechanism therefor including a' 0011,11. movable and a tube extending -ve'rtically moval thereof when desire 25. A circuit breaker, comprisingsepara ble contacts and automatic tripping mechanism there-for including a coil, a movable core, a case surrounding said coil and core,"

and a tube containing the latter, said tube having threaded engagement with said case for instant removal therefrom when desired,

said tube having a longitudinal slot opening at the lower end thereof and a Ispring band surrounding said lower end for closing said slot, while permitting the quick removal of the core when desired. i

.. 1 26. A circuit breaker, comprising separa-' ble contacts including a bridge-contact-ahd a shunt contact, independent arms for said two contacts, a toggle for holding them closed, and a gravity member for op.erat-' ing said toggle, the bridge contact arms having means for giving a" blow'to the,

shunt contact arms after the bridge contact arms have opened the bridge.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specificatiomxin the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LEONARD LORD EL DEN.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXW LL, M. A. Jones. 

